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(Topeka Capital Journal (KS) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) The Shawnee County Commission voted 3-0 Monday to reject a proposed 2015 budget put forth by the board of directors of the Shawnee County Extension Council, which plans educational programs in agriculture, home economics, 4-H and youth, and economic development.

The council was required by Kansas law to send a proposed budget by July 15 to the commission, which then has 10 days to reject or approve it. The proposed budget totals $869,110, an increase of $7,000 over the extension council's 2014 budget.

Commissioners Kevin Cook and Shelly Buhler said they considered it too early in the budget crafting process to finalize an extension council budget, adding that they wanted to continue to working on it. Commissioners plan about a month from now to finish the process of crafting the county's overall 2015 budget.

Commissioner Bob Archer stressed that he supports keeping budgets at their 2014 level, except in very limited circumstances, for all departments, elected offices and other entities receiving county funding.

The commission also:
- Voted 3-0 to authorize county counselor Rich Eckert to institute judicial foreclosure proceedings against 147 specific parcels of property owing $1.13 million in property taxes and special assessments, including 90 homes or residential properties, 36 lots with special assessments owed, 11 vacant lots and 10 commercial buildings. Eckert said he planned to file the foreclosure case Aug. 1 in Shawnee County District Court. A list of the properties can be found at http://cjon.co/1pwVbJv.

- Voted 3-0 to award the contract to Topeka-based Bettis Asphalt & Construction Inc., which offered the low bid of $98,045.10, to carry out a project to repair the deck and abutments for a bridge over the Wakarusa River on S.W. Davis Road, six-tenths of a mile south of S.W. 89th Street.